Code of Ethics

Mastiff Club of Western Canada Club
Code of Ethics

1. All members will conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the betterment and protection of the Mastiff breed.

2. Members will show good sportsmanship and conduct themselves with honesty and integrity in their interactions with other members, other mastiff fanciers or other dog/kennel clubs as well as the general public.

3. Members contemplating breeding a litter of mastiffs are advised to:

a) Use available resources to evaluate the quality and suitability for breeding of each bitch and dog

b) Be prepared to provide quality care and maintenance to every puppy until placed in their new homes

c) Register all puppies with the Canadian Kennel Club or the recognized registry of the country in which they reside when outside of Canada

4. The MCWC is committed to upholding the breed standards and promoting not only excellent conformation, but excellent health and temperaments. The MCWC strongly encourages members to test all breeding dogs for heritable conditions. The most imperative testing which the club feels ALL dogs should be tested for is as follows:

a) Hips/Elbows (using the registries of either OFA, OVC or Pennhip)

b) Cardiac

c) Cystinuria

d) PRA

e) CERF

Further testing consisting of Patellas, Shoulders, Canine Multi-focal Retinopathy, Thyroid, Von Willebrands and Degenerative Myelopathy is encouraged and is especially critical where a history of a specific condition exists within an individual dogs close relatives.

5. The MCWC places high importance on the care and well-being of all mastiffs and recommends that:

a) A bitch should not be bred before she is 22 months of age or after she reaches 7 years of age b) A bitch should not exceed a maximum of 3 litters in her lifetime c) A bitch should not be bred on consecutive heat cycles unless under advisement of a veterinarian

d) A male dog should be used at stud only after reaching 18 months of age

6. Members selling a Mastiff are encouraged to:

a) Screen buyers carefully

b) Not sell a mastiff to a pet shop or for resale

c) Take advantage of the Canadian Kennel Club non-breeding agreement when registering puppies

d) Not sell a puppy/adult that is sick, or has any serious health disorders without special instructions and a veterinarian's report outlining the disorder.

e) Not sell a Mastiff for the purpose of attack training, fighting or for any other use which would be detrimental for the dog or the breed.

f) Care for the entire litter until the age of eight (8) weeks

g) Take back any Mastiff they have sold or bred. If circumstances prevent this, they will assist a recognized Mastiff Rescue group in the placement of said Mastiff.

7. Members shall use a written contract which includes the following:

a) A copy of the mastiffs five generation pedigree

b) A signed registration or transfer

c) Some type of compensation to buyers in a situation where their puppy develops a serious genetic condition

d) A record of inoculations, worm check and complete care instructions

e) A recommendation that the buyer have their puppy examined by a veterinarian within five (5) working days of the sale. If the puppy is found to be unfit because of breeding or early kennel care, the purchase price shall be refunded or the puppy replaced, once the puppy is returned.